Felt washer



Aug. 28, 1928. W. P. FEENEY I FELT WASHER Filed July 22, 1927 33 Jul Elf/team Y Www-d in means for Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM P. FEENEY, 0F CHEBOYGAN, MICHIGAN.

FELT WASHER.

Application filed July 22, 1927. Serial No. 207,596.

This invention appertains to improvements an apparatus constructed in accordance with and beating materials and more particularly in an improved means for spraying a fluid under pressure upon a material so that the material is both cleaned and beaten by the fluid.

The invention finds particular utility in application in the cleaning of felts for paper mills and pulp mills, especially felts known as cylinder wet felts, Harper press felts and pulp press felts. It has been the practice hitherto to employ a shower and whip incleaning and beating felts of this character. By my invention, I have devised a device adapted to emit a plurality of pulsating jets of a fluid, which, when impinging on the felt, serve to clean it and also to beat it. My improved device is thus adapted to take the place of both the shower and the whip and is further adapted for installation on a machine in place thereof and to operate continuously while the machine is in operation.

The invention further aims to provide a device which will function with the utmost cfliciency and economy in the use of the fluid and which will distribute and spread thefluid uniformly over the surface of the material with as little waste as possible. The fluid is preferably supplied to the device under pressure so that the jets are emitted from the device and impinge upon the material under treatment at a high velocity with the result that the material is thoroughly cleaned. The jets are also preferably intermittent or pulsating in character, that is, each jet has alternate periods of activity and interruption, and the effect of the intermittent action of the jets is to subject the material to a pulsating action and to beat it as wellas to clean it.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the material under treatment is moved past the device emitting the jets of the fluid and I preferably provide means for moving the material and for operating the device in synchronism so that the periods of action of the jets and the movement of the material are so related that the fluid is distribut ed with great uniformity over the material and the apparatus operates with the greatest efficiency and economy.

Other advantages and desirable features of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of cleaning this invention, the section being taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2; and

igure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus showing the cleaning. and heating device partially in section and illustrating more clearly the nature and character of the preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings which show, by-way of illustration and example, one constructional embodiment of the invention and to the details of which I do not intend to be confined, I have disclosed the invention as adapted for application with a material 10 such as felt or the like, the material preferably unwinding from a roller 11 and winding on a similar roller 12 and being subjected to the action of a fluid in its sage from one roller to the other.

The preferred form of the cleaning and beating device includes an outer stationary member 13 in the form of a tube having a longitudinally extending slot 14 and an inner rotary member 15 also preferably tubular and concentric with the tube, 13, said rotary member having a plurality of apertures 16 preferably arranged in longitudinal rows. Means are provided for admitting a fluid such as a liquid, into the interior of the rotary element, so that as the rotary element rotates the fluid is emitted in jets of high velocity through the apertures in the'rotary member that register with the slot 14 in the outer stationary member.

The stationary member or tube 13 preferably has screw threaded on each end thereof a stufling box 17, said stufling box being mounted in. any desired way in the frame 18 of the machine. The stuffing boxes also carry loose packings 19 which are held in place by means of screw packing glands 20. The rotary element is adapted for rotation within the stationary member and the purpose of the packings 19 is to prevent the fluid from escaping through the ends of the stationary member and between the outer periphery of the rotary member and the inner wall of the stationary member.

The ends of the rotary member preferably extend beyond the ends of the stationary member, and the fluid is preferably admitted through one end of the rotary member into the interior thereof. The means for supply ing the fluid to the interior. of the rotary member preferably includes apump 21 of spectto one another.

any suitable or desired character, the fluid being conveyed to. the interior of therotary member through a conduit which includes the elbow 2:2, the gate valve .23, andunion 2d. The end of the conduit is connected to the rotary member by means ment or bushing .25 on the end of the conduit, an element 26 rigidly associated with the rotary element (as by means of screw threads or the like) so as to rotate therewith and a stationary external element 27 preferably screw threaded on the element and embracing the element 26. The swivel joint permits the rotary member to be rotated without imparting any rotation to the conduit and also prevents leakage of the fluid where the con duit joins and connects with the rotary element. Of course, the specific character of the swivel joint forms no part of the present invention and many other forms of connections will suggest themselves and many other means for supplying a fluid to the interior of the rotary element may be resorted to without departing from this invention.

Thepump 21 supplies a fluid under pressure to the interior oftherotary element, and preferably a pressure of about forty pounds to the square inch is used. The pressure of the fluid may be varied by means of the gate valve, 23, and in this way'the device may be adjusted for correct pressure. a When the apertures in the rotary element register with the slot in the stationary member enclosing the rotary member, jets of the fluid are emitted'uuder high velocity and impinge upon the felt or other material 10, as shown in Figure '1, andserve to clean and because of their intermittent character serve also to subject it to a beating action so that the material is beaten as well as washed.

By reference to Figure 2 it will be noted further that the apertures 16 in the rotary member are staggered and arranged in longitudinal rows with the apertures of adjacent rows slightly offset longitudinally.with re- By means of this arrangement of the apertures. the jets obtained are slightly out of phase, that is; their periodsvof activity and interruption do notcoincide, and consequently the fluid is very uniformly distributed over the material and the material is subjected to beats from the jets occurring at very frequent intervals;

In the form of the invention shown, I preferably provide a single means for moving the material 10 and winding it up on the roller 12 and for rotating the rotary member 15 so that the'niovement of the l'naterialflO and the rotation of the rotary member are in synchronism and are so related as to provide for the greatest possible distribution'of the fluid over the material and the utmost efii cienc-y in the operation of the apparatus. While any desired means maybe employed of a swivel joint which includes an externally threaded ele-.

for operating the washing device and moving the material in synchronism, 1 preferably do. this by driving the rotary member 15 from the roller 12 and to this end I employ sprocket wheels 28 and 29 on the rotary memher and on the shaft of the roller 12 respectively and couple the wheels by a chain or the like. The roller 12 is continuously rotated by means of a pulley 30 which may be driven from any suitable source and by any desired means and consequently the rotary member 15 is also continuously driven and in synchronism with the movement of the material 10. j

The internal pressure to which the device is subjected is, as I have stated, quite high and in order to strengthen the device and to eliminate any danger of injury or damage thereto by the pressure, I PIOVlt e members or rings 31 which encircle the outer stationary tube 123 and serve to strengthen it. The other end of the rotary member, that is, the end opposite to that through which the fluid is su 'iplied,

is closed by any suitable. means and prefer- 32, the smaller ably by a reducing coupling end of which is closed by av blow-out plu which serves as a means to free the pres e within the device and to release the fluid when the pressure within the device becomes too great and also allows access to the interior of the rotary member for cleaning or the like. Thus I not only provide means for strengthening the device to eliminate danger or iiijury thereto by the high pressure employed but I also provide means for insuring absolute safety in operation by the provision of means for releasing the pressure should it become too great.

Many variations and modifications may be made in the specific con truction disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention and I desire to be limited only by the state of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class described compris ing a stationary member having a longitudinal slot, a member adapted to be moved past said slot, said member having apertures extending theretlu'ough, and means for forcing a fluid through the slot and apertures during the periodof their registration.

2. A device of the class described comprising a stationary member having a longitudinal slot, a member adapted to be moved past said slot, said member having apertures ar ranged in staggered relation and means for forcing a fluid through the slot and apertures during the period of their registration.

3. A device of the class described comprising ahollow stationary member having an opening through its wall, a hollow rotary member having an aperture through its wall, means for continuously rotating said rotary Bil ion

member and means for supplying a fluid under pressure to the interior of said rotary member.

4. A device of the class described comprising a hollow stationary member having an opening through its wall, a hollow rotary member having a plurality of apertures through its Wall, said apertures being arranged in staggered relation and means for supplying a fluidunder pressure to the interior of said rotary member.

5. A device of the class described comprising a stationary tubular member having a longitudinal slot through its Wall, a rotary tubular member concentric with said stationary member and having a plurality of longitudinal rows of apertures, means for continuously rotating said rotary member, and means for supplying a fluid under pressure to the interior of said rotary member.

6. A device of the class described comprising a stationary tubular member having a longitudinal slot through its wall, a rotary tubular member concentric with said stationary member and having a plurality of longitudinal rows of apertures, the apertures of adjacent rows being ofl'set longitudinally with respect to one another, means for continuous ly rotating said rotary member, and means for supplying a fluid under pressure to the interior of said rotary member.

7. A device of the class described comprising a tubular stationary member having an opening through its wall, a rotary tubular member having an aperture through its wall, packed joints on the ends of the stationary tubular member, means for continuously rotating said rotary member and means for supplying a fluid under pressure to the interior of said rotary member.

8. A device of the class described comprising a hollow stationary member having an opening through its wall, a hollow rotary member having an aperture through its wall, means for continuously rotating said rotary member, means for supplying a fluid under pressure to the interior of said rotary member and means for releasing the pressure when it reaches a predetermined amount.

9. A device of the class described comprising a hollow stationary member having an opening through its wall, a hollow rotar member having an aperture through its wal means for continuously rotating said rotary member, means for supplying a fluid under pressure to the interior of said rotary member and means for strengthening and reenforcing at least one of the members to prevent damage due to the pressure.

10. A device of the class described comprising a stationary tubular member having a slot extending longitudinally thereof, a r0- tary tubular member concentric therewith and having a plurality of apertures through its wall, means for continuously rotating said rotary member, means for supplying a fluid under pressure to the interior of said rotary member, and a ring encircling the outer of the tubular members to strengthen the same.

11. A device of the class described comprising a tubular stationary member having a slot extending longitudinally thereof, a rotary tubular member substantially concentric with the first tubular member and having a plu-, rality of apertures through its wall, means for continuously rotating said rotary member, a pump, and a swivel joint connecting the conduit leading from said pump to one end of said rotary member.

12. The combination with a material and a roller on which it is adapted to be wound and a device including a hollow stationary member having an opening through its Wall, a hollow rotary member having an aperture through its wall and means for supplying a fluid under pressure to the interior of said rotary member, of means for driving said rotary member and said roller together.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 19th day of July, 1927.

WILLIAM P. FEENEY. 

